Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Dayton, Ohio Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Dayton weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Dayton, OH
Saturday, July 4 at 10:11 AM
82
°
Clear
Feels like
90°
Humidity
77%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
2:14 AM
Sunset
5:08 PM
Dayton, OH
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastDayton, OH: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 72 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit with a 28% chance of precipitation at 9 AM.
L 72°H 93°
Dayton, OH
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    23%
    —
    93°73°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    40%
    —
    91°72°-2°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    40%
    —
    83°69°-8°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Drizzle
    —
    —
    81°64°-2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Partly Cloudy
    19%
    —
    85°65°+4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Thunderstorm
    39%
    —
    84°67°-1°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Thunderstorm
    52%
    —
    80°71°-4°
Dayton, OH
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°68°83°98°6a12p6p12anow 82°high 93°low 72°PRECIP %
Dayton, OH
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
192° · backing 46°
Direction
SSW
192°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
15
avg 5
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 5 · pk 15 @ 7:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 253SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Dayton, OH
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
990.0
-0.4 mb in 3h · steady · 29.23 inHg
Now
990.0
mb
3h
-0.4
mb
12h
-1.0
mb
24h
-4.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 990–994
9859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW994.0990.0990.0
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Dayton, OH
Air quality
51
AQI
Moderate
→-2 in 6h▲Peak ~61 @ 8 PM

AQI 51 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 12.6 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 8 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
12.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
14μg/m³
NO₂Good
6μg/m³
OzoneUnhealthy SG
103μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 49 now. With UV 5.4 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 35 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 49
UV peak
5.4 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 35

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 12.6 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.88 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.88
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³330
Dayton, OH
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
40.0mi
UNLIMITED
92 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:11 UTC · Dayton, OH · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:11 UTC · Dayton, OH · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Dayton, OH
Satellite · infrared · animated
Dayton, OH
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Dayton, OH
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:42 AM
Sunrise
2:14 AM
Daylight
14h 54m
Sunset
5:08 PM
Civil dusk
9:42 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Dayton, OH
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
11:31 PM
Moonset
10:42 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Dayton, OH
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Dayton at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 15 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 45402, 45403, 45404, 45405, 45406, 45409, 45410, 45414 +22 more

16-Day Forecast — Dayton

  1. Sat93°73°23%
  2. Sun91°72°40%
  3. Mon83°69°40%
  4. Tue81°64°9%
  5. Wed85°65°19%
  6. Thu84°67°39%
  7. Fri80°71°52%
  8. Sat83°67°27%
  9. Sun77°62°22%
  10. Mon70°57°11%
  11. Tue74°61°14%
  12. Wed84°63°32%
  13. Thu85°68°24%
  14. Fri86°70°19%
  15. Sat86°68°35%
  16. Sun89°71°29%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Dayton

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Dayton

SPC has placed Dayton in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Dayton peaks at about 75°F in July and bottoms near 27°F in January; May brings the heaviest rain (4.4 inches) and September the least (2.5 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January27°2.8″16
February30°2.9″15
March40°4.0″17
April52°4.1″18
May61°4.4″18
June70°3.8″17
July75°3.4″16
August74°3.1″16
September68°2.5″13
October56°2.6″12
November42°3.0″14
December31°3.7″16

Regional context

Dayton's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 27°F Januarys with 75°F Julys — a 48°F swing. About 40.2 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 186 days a year.

No season owns Dayton's rain: May reaches 4.4 inches across 17.7 days and September keeps 2.5 inches on 12.6, an even spread through Dayton's year. That lines Dayton up with places like Fort McKinley, OH, Shiloh, OH and Riverside, OH, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

The cool-season window in Dayton starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Warm-soil crops in Dayton wait about two weeks past Dayton's last frost, once the soil warms. Dayton's window closes around mid-November as overnight lows return below freezing. Within Dayton, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Dayton's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Fort McKinley, OH, Shiloh, OH, Riverside, OH, Oakwood, OH, Drexel, OH.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the first ruby-throated hummingbirds back to Dayton's gardens and parks.

May sees the unfurling of American beech leaves throughout local woodlands.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Dayton?
In Dayton, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Dayton's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Dayton?
May is the wettest month in Dayton, about 4.4 inches on average; the year totals roughly 40 inches.
What is the warmest month in Dayton?
The warmest stretch in Dayton comes in July, around 75°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Dayton?
On average January is the chilliest month in Dayton, about 27°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Dayton?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Dayton; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Dayton get?
Dayton records around 186 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Dayton?
Dayton's USDA zone comes from its January mean (27°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Dayton?
Dayton's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Dayton?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Dayton in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Dayton?
Current conditions for Dayton and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Dayton forecast updated?
The Dayton forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Dayton?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Dayton are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Dayton?
The next few days in Dayton's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Dayton, Ohio occupies a humid subtropical zone, with January means near 27°F and July around 75°F — a 48°F swing.

Dayton sees close to 40 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 186 wet days.

Latitude 39.8°N gives Dayton its 48°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Dayton's growing season.

All cities in Ohio →

Cincinnati, OH weather →

ZIP codes in Dayton

  • 45432
  • 45469
  • 45402
  • 45403
  • 45406
  • 45404
  • 45405
  • 45409
  • 45428
  • 45420
  • 45423
  • 45424
  • 45410
  • 45414
  • 45417
  • 45419
  • 45377
  • 45401
  • 45412
  • 45422
  • 45470
  • 45481
  • 45490

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.